Armenians in India - Behind the Scenes Forgotten History

Highlighting some of the lesser known, but just as important past Armenian characters in India.
Those Armenians who have some sort of connection, or maybe simply buried in Calcutta and other locations in India, I re-create their lives and put them into short stories, at least as much as I am able to.
The Armenians of India are unique and their stories need to be told. I hope this blog goes a little way to telling those stories.
Armenian graves in India www.chater-genealogy.com.

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The
royal line can be traced through Katherine Scott Forbes’s marriage to James
Crombie and their children, all of which is well documented in various family
trees on a number of genealogy websites. More recently a number of news
articles published world-wide both in print and digitally, have explored the
direct relationship with the Princes, and it is not my intention to investigate
this genealogy line today.

However,
scarce recognition (so far) has been given about the life and descendants of Katherine
Scott Forbes’s brother Alexander Scott Forbes.

But
first, not so commonly known is the fact that Theodore Forbes also had another
son, not with Indian-Armenian Eliza Kevork but borne by a Scottish woman called
Ann Macdonnell.

Theodore Forbes acknowledged his illegitimate son in his Will.

The
child was named Frederick Forbes, and is acknowledged by Theodore in his Will[2] as “my respected son Frederick by Ann Macdonnell
of Aberdeenshire”. Little Frederick was bequeathed 20,000 Bombay Rupees,
only 5,000 Rupees less than Alexander, the son Theodore had with Eliza Kevork.
Frederick was born in Scotland on 22 November 1808 and it would seem that after
Theodore’s death, Frederick came under the care of his uncle (Theodore’s
brother) Alexander Forbes and his wife Annabella nee Reid and their children.

Conveniently
ignoring his illegitimacy, Frederick became fully absorbed into the Forbes
family, and he went on to graduate from Marischal University in 1827[3]. In 1831
Frederick was nominated by his cousin, John Forbes (son of Alexander Forbes the
uncle that took in Frederick) for entry
into the East India Company as an Assistant Surgeon[4]. His
preparations for a military career didn’t quite go to plan. Having studied medicine
for some time, The Royal College of Surgeons in London wrote that Frederick was
“found to be unqualified for the
situation” and was therefore referred back to his professional studies for
a further six months. Frederick was finally examined and passed as an Assistant
Surgeon in February 1832.

The Royal College of Surgeons found Frederick Forbes "unqualified"

From
the book: The Visit of Frederick Forbes
to the Somali Coast in 1833” by Roy Bridges[5]:
an explanation is give as to why: “…..Frederick
found himself in the Gulf of Aden in the Red Sea in 1833 because his ship, the
brig Tigris, had been ordered to Mocha to keep an eye on developments there as
Mohammed Ali's campaigns against his nominal Turkish overlord proceeded…….

….at the time of his [Frederick’s] visit
to the Somali Coast he was attached to the Indian Navy. His regrettably brief
subsequent life shows that he was on the way to becoming a notable
scholar-explorer. At this early stage he obviously had some hopes of travelling
in Africa[6]
but the accidents of his career led himto make expeditions in the Mesopotamian
and Persian regions of South-West Asia.[7]”

Frederick’s
thesis in 1840 on the “Nature and History
of Plague as Observed in the North Western Provinces of India” gained him a
gold medal awarded by the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Edinburgh.
Touchingly, Frederick dedicated the book to his uncle

“Alexander Forbes, Esquire

of

Boyndlie, Aberdeenshire.

This Treatise is Inscribed

As A

Mark Of Respect And Gratitude”

Like
so many about to embark into unknown territories, Frederick made a Will on the
3rd April 1841 in Tehran, Persia.Witnesses were Frederick Hughes of the Madras Company and Syeed
Khan.Frederick appointed “Charles Forbes Esquire or the managing
partner for the time being of the firm of Forbes and Company, Bombay, Alexander
Forbes Esquire of Boyndlie [his uncle] in the county of Aberdeen, and James
Crombie [his half sister Kitty Forbe’s husband and ancestor to Princes William
and Harry respectively] now lately residing at Swailand of Elrick in the parish
of Newmachar and county of Aberdeen, to be the executors of this my will.”

Frederick ensured his mother (Ann) was provided an annuity for her lifetime.

Frederick’s
Will is also evidence of his blood relationship to Alexander Scott Forbes.

I give and bequeath to Alexander Scott Forbes son of my late father
Theodore Forbes of Bombay........

Frederick’s
last bequest: “I give and bequeath the
residue of my personal estate whatsoever or wheresoever to my said executors
Alexander Forbes and James Crombie for their absolute use and benefit for and
on account of the trouble they may have in the performance of the trusts of
this my will, to be equally divided between them, their heirs or assigns.”

Frederick Forbes left the residue of his estate to his uncle, Alexander Forbes and James Crombie, his half sister Kitty's husband.

Just
5 months later, in September 1841 Frederick was murdered.

“Intelligence was yesterday received at
Agra of the murder of Dr. Forbes, by Ibrahim Khan, the Beelochee chief of
Seistan.Dr. Forbes, under the protection
of Mohumud Reza Khan, the most influential chieftain in Seistan, had completed
the circuit of the lake [at Seistan] and visited all sites of interest in the
province, accompanied by one Persian servant. From the residence of Mohumud
Reza Khan he was escorted to Jehanabad, the fort of Ibrahim Khan, Beelochee,
and after remaining with that chief a few days, he left for Sash, with a party
of Ibrahim Khan’s horse for a guide.The
Khan joined him at a short distance from the fort; they breakfasted together in
a friendly manner, and Dr. F. was immediately murdered. Our report says, that
being attacked by a large hound brought out to hunt the hog, he shot it in
self-defence, and the Khan in a moment of irritation immediately fired on
him.The other and more probable story
is, that the Khan, on pretence of examining his arms, got possession of his
gun, pistols, and sword, then immediately gave the signal to his horsemen, who
seized the doctor, dragged him through the water of the lake until he was
half-drowned, and when he was brought out, the Khan shot him with his own
hand.His Persian attendant was
barbarously murdered a day or two after.[8]

Nearly
10 years with the East India Company, and he was dead at 34.

Direct male Forbes descendants of Theodore and Eliza Forbes

Turning
now to Alexander Scott Forbes, son of Theodore and Eliza. He married Elizabeth
Cobb 29 June 1865 at Dundee, her father James was a Scottish weaver. Alexander
and Elizabeth had two children Catherine Forbes in June 1866[9] and
Frederick Forbes in February 1869[10]. Alexander
Scott Forbes was an insurance agent and comfortably placed financially, so much
so that they also fostered two other children Louis and Jenny Mudie[11]. Alexander
Scott Forbes died 7 April 1887[12] and by
1891 his widow Elizabeth and their son Frederick where living alone in the family
house 14 Ann Street, Arbroath, Scotland. Elizabeth’s income derived from her
husband’s estate whilst Frederick was a clerk with a shoe manufacturing
company.

Birth record for Frederick Forbes

Alexander
and Elizabeth Forbes’s son Frederick married Agnes Low Petrie 27 December 1897
in Arbroath[13].
Agnes was a working girl and employed as a flax reeler, her father was a
hairdresser. Frderick and Agnes had 3 children, Elizabeth Ross Forbes born 1898[14], David Buik
Forbes born 1903[15]
and Ethel Agnes Forbes born 1904[16].
Frederick Forbes was a commercial traveller/shoe salesman, he died of pneumonia
in 1909 in Arbroath[17], the
death was registered by his brother-in-law Alexander Buik (who had married
Catherine, Frederick’s sister in 1888 in Arbroath) leaving Agnes with 3 young
children to bring up alone.

Birth record of David Buik Forbes

The
vast fortune that had been left to Alexander Scott Forbes by his father
Theodore in his Will of 21 September 1820 was diminishing, In the Will Theodore
wrote days before his fateful demise: “To
my respected son Alexander Scott Forbes by the said Eliza Kewark [sic] and now in India where it is my wish that
he should remain, the sum of twenty five thousand 25, 000 Bombay Rupees.” A
handsome bequest for the day.

By
1920, Agnes’s eldest daughter Elizabeth had struck up a blossoming friendship with a fellow Scot, James A. Keith. He was a
grocer’s assistant and in December of that year sailed from Liverpool to New
York[18] with a
view to starting a new life.It is this
innocuous migration of an unrelated Scottish lad that would end up influencing
the remaining Forbes family to leave Scotland and start their own new lives in
the land of the brave and the free.

On
the 23rd June 1923 (Elizabeth) Lizzie Forbes sailed from Glasgow to
Boston to meet James Keith, a month later on the 6th August James
and Lizzie had married in Troy, Rensselaer, New York[19] a town
which would become the home of the migrated Forbes whose roots where originally
from India. Lizzie and Keith had two children, Ronald Bruce Keith born 1926
died 2006 and David Forbes Keith born 1929 died 1985.

Missing
her daughter and with nothing to keep her and the two remaining children in
Scotland, Agnes followed Lizzie to New York in September 1925[20], taking
David and Ethel with her. The three of them took up residence in Stow Avenue,
Troy, David found employment as a book-keeper whilst Ethel was a cashier.

In
1928 Agnes’s son, David Buik Forbes married a Scottish woman called Una Smith
moving just a few houses away in Stow Avenue. David and Una lived in several
locations but stayed in Troy for the rest of their days.

In
September 1929[21]
Agne’s daughter, Ethel married Alexander Smith a migrant Scot like herself.
With David and his sister Ethel now married, Agnes moved in with James, Lizzie and
their family, where she lived out her days, dying in 1939.

Image via findagrave.com

Agnes
is remembered on a marker stone at Elmwood Hill Cemetery along with that of her
son-in-law James Keith who at the time of his death in 1956, had been the
manager of the Mohican Markets in Troy and Albany for 20 years. Agnes’s beloved
daughter Lizzie Keith died in 1963 and had been an integral member of the Fifth
Avenue Presbyterian Church choir for over 40 years[22]. Remembered
on the same memorial is one of James and Elizabeth’s children David Forbes
Keith.

David
and Una Forbes had two children a boy and girl and thus continued the direct
male Forbes descendancy from Theo and Eliza of Surat in India. David was a
salesman for over 20 years with the Tetley Tea Co and heavily involved with
community life in Troy whilst Una worked for the Denby’s department store and
became a well loved and trusted member of staff.

It
might come as a surprise that today there are living descendants in New York who
share the same common ancestors of Princes William and Harry, Scottish Theodore
Forbes and Indian Armenian Eliza Kevork.

[5]The International Journal of
African Historical Studies, Vol. 19, No. 4 (1986), pp.679-691. Frederick Forbes
left a manuscript journal record of his cruise along the Somali coast and
experiences in Berbera in 1833-1834.

[7]More details on Forbes's family
background and life appear in Roy C. Bridges, "An Aberdeenshire Family and
the Indian-African Connection in the Early Nineteenth Century," An African
Miscellany for John Hargreaves, Roy Bridges, ed. (Aberdeen, 1983), 5-10.
Forbes's Asian journeys of note were recorded in Journal Royal Geographical
Society, IX (1839), 409-430 and XIV (1844), 145-192. Forbes also wrote a
medical treatise, Thesis on the Nature and History of the Plague as Observed in
the North West Provinces of India ... (Edinburgh and London, 1840)

Tuesday, 6 June 2017

Lt. Col. W.F. O’Connor:
Saved from Assassination by an Armenian called Martin.

Missing
from this family portrait is eldest son Martyrose Martin.

Jordan Martin’s life in Shiraz prior to 1915 was in his
own words “comfortable”. Educated at Calcutta in the Armenian College &
Philanthropic Academy[1]
between 1885 and 1891, he left there and briefly went to work as a Jute
assistant at Naraingunge, Nr. Dacca. However, he had managed to secure a post
at the Imperial Bank of Persia in Shiraz, returning to his home town he took up
this position in January 1892. He and
his wife Elizabeth neé Baban Catchick had married in February 1893 at St.
Mary’s Church, Shiraz. He briefly worked for the Imperial Bank of Persia at Shiraz
as a clerk but moved on quickly to establish a successful import/export
business enabling him and Elizabeth to stay near to their respective large and
close-knit families. It is a widely held belief that Elizabeth’s own family
were direct descendants of ReverendArathoon Shumavonian through his daughter Varthanoosh. Shumavonian was
also a native of Shiraz, and in 1794,
when a priest at the Armenian Church Madras,is credited with publishing the first known Armenian newspaper, under
the name of the "Azdarar”.

Jordan Martin was born on the 11 November 1870 at Shiraz
in Persia. He and Elizabeth (who was born on the 16 August 1873 also in Shiraz)
went on to have at least four children:

Martyrose Martin born
December 1893, Shiraz, married Lucya Carapiet, had four children, died 1937 in
Shiraz aged 44.

John Martin born June 1895, Shiraz, remained a bachelor and died in 1981 in
Calcutta.

Lucy Martin born August 1904, Shiraz, married Joseph George in 1931 at the
Armenian Church Calcutta, they had 1 son Gerald who was born in 1936 in
Calcutta and died in London in 2001.

Haik Martin born September 1906, Shiraz, also remained a bachelor and died in
Calcutta in 1980.

During the Persian revolution in 1915 Jordan Martin
stayed loyal to the British Government, and in particular to Col. W.F.T.
O’Connor the Consul for Shiraz.Spying
where he could, sending notes and observations to the Consul enabling the
British authorities to understand the tensions and unstable situation evolving
around them. Remarkably, Jordan kept records; writing copious notes and letters
during this period. In particular his account of how he evaded capture after
Col. O’Connor was taken prisoner and the British Residency at Shiraz was taken
over by the Gendarmes.Jordan wrote his Abridged Statement as part of his
compensation claim for his losses.

The Globe, 24 November 1915

Col. O’Connor’s own account of the events of 10 November
1915 are recorded in official papers sent back to England from Bushire, and are
held at the British Library in London[2].
He also wrote extensively about being taken prisoner at the Consul in Shiraz in
his personal memoir “Things Mortal”
as well as a detailed account in his book “On
The Frontier And Beyond. A Record of Thirty Years Service”.

Jordan Martin, Col. O’Connor’s Armenian saviour lost his
business of 25 years, his home, his possessions, and his family were in
constant jeopardy. He risked his life and put himself and his family directly
in the line of fire to continue to spy for the British.

Typical of the type of observation note
Jordan Martin would make and pass on to the authorities

His wife Elizabeth and their two youngest children
managed to escape to Bushire from Shiraz, but Jordan remained in the vicinity
evading capture by hiding in sheep sheds but still making observations that he
tried to pass to the British.After the
war, he led an almost nomadic life constantly hustling to make a living, now in
his mid 40’s he found himself having to start his life all over again.
Everything he and his family had was long gone, looted or seized.Through what must have been irritating
persistence he wrote on numerous occasions, and managed to secure a passage to
Bombay for Elizabeth and the two young children Lucy and Haik via the British
government authorities in Bushire thus enabling them to start school in India.
He spent many years writing and re-writing dozens of letters to the British authorities
in India and Persia, patiently explaining in minute detail how he played a
crucial secret and political role for the British. He meticulously wrote untold
numbers of letters, preceded by his many hand-written drafts, full of pain,
frustration, explanation helplessness and hope, whilst O’Connor the man whose
life he saved from a brutal assassination plot in Shirazclimbed effortlessly up the military chain of
command. He went on to lead a successful and glorious military career with the
British Army, culminating in promotions and ultimately a knighthood.

Two
Men, One War. Persia 1915.
The Unknown Story

The morning of O’Connor’s capture at the British Consul
in Shiraz was a turning point for many people. None more so than Jordan Martin.
The burning of the Consul papers by O’Connor in the minutes leading up to his
capture, robbed Jordan Martin of the official proof and evidence relating to
his service as an intelligence gatherer.Everything the Residency had been dealing with regarding the war was
destroyed, Jordan Martin’s paper trail was gone. It may have helped save his
life at the time, but after the war in the protracted fight for compensation of
his losses, he had very little to rely on other than his own memory.

There are no references to Jordan Martin at all, and only
a brief account of the murder of Jordan’s brother-in-law Mackertich who was
Elizabeth’s brother.

Here is the official version of the events of the 10th
November 1915 as per a Government communication from Persia to London.

According to Jordan’s personal notes Abridged Statement, Mackertich asked [the Gendarmes] to be taken
near to the Armenian Cemetery [he knew
they were going to shoot him], but they refused.

Extract from Col. O'Connor's book "On The Frontier And Beyond"

Mackertich Johannes Catchick

Mackertich[3],
Jordan’s brother in law was needlessly and ruthlessly murdered[4].

Jordan’s personal account Abridged
Statement was used as part of his protracted compensation claim for loss of
earnings and livelihood. He said:

ABRIDGED
STATEMENT

10th
November 1915. The unluckiest day.

All
hope lost when flag lowered, started preparations for running away.

Photoman’s
wife turned up no cash in the house gave her my gold watch presented by Prince
Amatoonee, worth Krs. 800, but she being hard up for money sold it for Krs.
400.

Throughout
the night burnt up all letters.

Early
in the morning without wishing good-buy to anyone because they were already
sheltered in another house started for Kawam’s quarters and took shelter in his
Farashbashy’s.

On
the road one of the democrats returning from March passed remarks for my cap to
be changed. Two hours later received news from Mrs. Martin [Elizabeth, his wife] that 8 Gendarmes had made search for me in
house church and other places. Late in the dark shifted to Faraschbashy’s
private house, with instructions not to come out from the room before dark.

12th
November:-

Wosstrum
and Rovers at Kawam’s for an hour and a half. I sent word to him that he had
the best chance to quieten further disturbances by keeping the culprits under
guard in his palace, but he was afraid and they returned to their usual mean
tricks.

13th
November:-

My
brother-in-law, poor Mack [Elizabeth’s
brother] taken out from the barracks and shot. He had asked to be taken
close to the cemetery, but refused.

14th
November:-

One
of my letters dated 6th Nov. re Meeting at Haji Mohamed Mehdy’s
garden including Moazeds name found in your coat pocket (luckily you had very
cleverly burnt up all the others).[O’Connor
had destroyed all the British Consul papers by burning them prior to being
marched out of the residency. Any evidence and proof of Jordan’s involvement
with the British Consul would have been burnt too].

Johnnie
[Jordan’s second son] threatened
imprisoned two hours in the Persian Telegraph Office by Moazed, sent home late
in the night after stating that he knew nothing about his fathers doings and
correspondence.

11th
December:-

To
evade fresh suspicion shifted to Farashbashy’s third house sheep fold.

8
a.m. balls and bullets of all descriptions started flying over Kawam’s quarters
including my little dark dungeon although solitary but soon my companions the
sheep and goats plus shepherd returned preferring hunger to bullets.

31st
December:_

After
11 days defence running short of cartridges Kawan was obliged to run away with
his faithful horsemen carrying what was possible with him with the exception of
25,000 Tomans in silver. Most of his servants who were democrats were the Chief
betrayers.

On
3 occasions he took personally several forts but on his return they were
vacated and made over to Gendarmes.

1st
January 1916:-

Late
in the night [Jordan] as an old Haji
riding on a donkey went to our Church.

14th
January:- shifted to another house.

16th
January:- Gang of Gendarmes with six Democrats searched after me in the church.

19th
January:- Early in the morning [Jordan
pretending to be] as a sick old man returned to church.

26th
February:- [Jordan] Left Shiraz in
Persian costume for Bunder Reeg where arrived safely on the 8th
March and passed the night in the Mosque without food.

Taken in a photographic studio, Jordan Martin re-created the disguise he used whilst hiding in Shiraz

Joined
the late Principal Marine Transport Office on Rs 150/- per mensem, and
continued up to date with a promise of good increment from this month but alas
health has failed and doubt very much to be able to satisfy my Superiors with
my work as before.

I
have omitted writing many things which will appear later on in a book if I do
not die and go to India.

The
exorbitant sums spent and presents to my life protectors will be written when
desired.

Out
of the 100 Tomans you were kind enough to send in September fifty was given
before 9th November to the four reporters.

Jordan Martin in his Persian disguise

Jordan Martin kept detailed notes. These are his expenses from his compensation claim

Jordan Martin’s expenses incurred during the war amounted
to Rs65925.

From a letter written by Jordan on 26 August 1922 to the
Secretary Foreign & Political Department of the Government of India, Simla,
one can sense his desperation.

Sir,

The
extreme severity of my hardship due to the suspense and delay in the
representation of my case of conspicuous services and loyalty to the British
Government during the German Insurrection of 1915, compels me now to submit for
the consideration and orders of His Excellency The Viceroy the most trying
circumstances under which I rendered exceptionally valuable service to the
British Consulate and authorities in saving the life and prestige at the great
danger and risk of my own life as stated below.

1.
That the rebels sought to take the life of Colonel O’Connor when he was about
to leave the Consulate on a certain evening to go to the Bank Manager, and I
stopped his doing so by an urgent letter through an old Persian soldier who
reached him time and got his reward of fifty Krans from me and I thus avoided
the calamity.

2.
That when provision for the British Consulate guards was stopped and
prohibited, I secured in small lots and supplied 1000 Shiraz maunds of flour
under disguise as a Gendarme, despite the watchfulness of the Pro-Germans and
at no small risk to my own life.

3.That
I also rendered exceptional service to Captain Hart of the Central India Horse
who with Dr.Woollatt bears sufficient
testimony of me in his letter (copy attached).

4.
That the danger and risk involved in according service to the British Consulate
rendered me as an enemy of the Persian Government, as it is clear from the fact
that I generously surrendered all means of living after twenty six years
experience in business with the Persians with whom I was closely associated
with and which was the only hope I had of maintaining my wife and family, as
well as the loss of all my money and property for loyalty to the British
Government; and I cannot return to Persia especially now that the S.P.R. have
withdrawn.

5.
Another incident to which I was exposed was just after Gholam Ali Khan
Vice-Consul was shot by Davood Khan.I
was advised by my reporter not to appear as usual in the bazaar and public
places. I kept in doors and continued my regular reports to the British
Consulate by an increased number of spies (male and female) and even at this
stage the pro-Germans selected Dr. Nayhib’s son to put an end to my life, but
thanks be to God that he did not succeed. Although he challenged me out of my
house and ordered his men to shoot me, but the leader an old known Tofangchee seeing
my eldest son and the guard better armed retreated with his men unheeding their
commander who was later on imprisoned for some reason.It is perhaps necessary to state here that
the only consideration received by me was from Bushire Residency, being a sum
of Rs. 1500/- which was a pecuniary assistance as travelling expenses to come
to Calcutta which was not even one tenth of my out-of-pocket expenses spent on
account of services to Government plus Rs. 500/- from the Foreign Office; and
the education provided for my two children.

To
render my case to be less laborious in the consideration of the facts as
represented above, I beg to summarise them viz.

(A)Apprehending as I did the imminent danger
to which Colonel O’Connor’s life and the British Consulate was exposed, I gave
up everything, abandoned wife, children, house and possessions in rendering
exceptionally brave services to the British Consulate and in keeping the
British Consulate informed of the movements of the Germans, anti-British and
Persians at the risk of my own life, as shown in the letters which Colonel
O’Connor had to destroy for fear of their falling in the hands of the enemy;
except one which was left out in the Consul’s coat pocket and found by the
Gendarmes which he was captured; that very letter was at once sent to Wassmuss
who with red ink issued orders to get me cut to pieces.The anxieties, trouble and fear suffered by
my wife and family owing to the Gendarmes, while in search of me to execute the
order when I was away from my house in hiding at Kawam’s quarters are beyond
imagination, besides the great distress and hardship whilst running away in
disguise from Shiraz to Bushire via Bunder Rig.

(B)That it was through my personal efforts
and at great risk and expense I provided the Consulate with flour when they
were shut out from all means of obtaining food supply.

(C)That I was not in indignant circumstances
but I had rights and claims on the Persian traders and others of all positions
and dignity which I had to give up owing to the German disturbance and my
allegiance to the British Government, and now that the British have evacuated
the place I have no chance of returning or recovering anything of my rights
from the Persians.

(D)That the value of such services can only be
fairly and justly estimated by considering the amount of risk and danger to
which I was exposed.

Under
the peculiarly difficult circumstances of my case as stated above I beg most
respectfully to submit for the consideration of the Government of India that
having regard to the fact that I sacrificed everything I humbly claim to be
regarded as being worthy of a helping hand from the British Government now in
my reclining years by the grant to me of my out-of-pocket expenses as per
account enclosed and of a compensation political pension adequate to maintain
myself and family in comfort and dignity tenable during my life and thereafter
to my family.

No
other kind of compensation I respectfully submit could be regarded as an
adequate reward for such conspicuously brave service to Government, and I
therefore earnestly appeal to your high sense of justice that in placing my
case for the favourable consideration and orders of His Excellency the Viceroy,
you will be pleased to give the full measure of your consideration with due
weight to the fact that the exceptional circumstances of the most critical
moment and in my case, would fairly and justly entitle me to exceptional or
special treatment.I have to the best of
my ability represented here the extreme severity of the hardships from
starvation and all kinds of privations which I generously undertook but perhaps
I could better and more fully state the terrible circumstances viva voce if
necessary or if I would be given the opportunity by being summoned to Simla.

I
have the honour to be

Sir

Your
most obedient servant.

Over a number of years, Jordan had become known in Shiraz
as “old Martin” and “secret reporter”[5].
He had built strong connections both with the British Residency and local
businesses alike. Now, he battled depravation that came with being penniless. It
was the goodwill and friendship of the local community in Calcutta that helped
him and his young family through these very difficult times. He attempted to re-start a new business
because everything he had ever known or possessed in Shiraz was destroyed. He
lived with the memories of murder in his family. He wondered if he would ever
truly be free of the execution order on his own head for the part he played in
favour of the British. Between 1917 and
1925 He bullishly kept writing his letters, he became a thorn in the side of
the government in Simla whose replies placated him just enough to give him a
slim hope his claims may be successfully repaid to him.Eventually he was award Rs2,000 as compensation
for his loss ofhis livelihood and
business; his two younger children were granted a small stipend for their
education. His hopes for the recovery of the Rs65,000+ losses incurred whilst
spying for the British would never be met. Yet, he continued to write. Politely
at first, with respect and reverence. As the years rolled by his letters about
war compensation and reparation continued with politeness but were teamed with
feint anger, eventually culminating with sheer bloody‑mindedness and abject
rage. In one letter to the Governor and Viceroy in Delhi in 1928 he said “I make bold to suggest to your Excellency that if out of perverse
mentality I had in those days only showed pro-German tendencies, I would have
been a hundred times better off than what I am at present…..”

One of several passport applications of Jordan Martin. This one shows evidence of a sister, Myill.

Jordan Martin’s Passport application. Included on it is
his sister Myill.

I believe Jordan Martin was one of the many people O’Connor
cultivated into the ‘useful but don’t get attached ‘ category of life.Whereas Martin put more importance on their
connection/friendship than O’Connor ever would. After the war, Martin remained
in stricken circumstances. O’Connor was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and
continued his military career, enjoying his time in Nepal at the British
Residency from where he occasionally wrote replies to the persevering Martin in
his quest for compensation following the revolution in Shiraz. O’Connor’s
letters adroitly side-lined him in a way that Martin believed O’Connor was
indeed doing everything he could to help. The reality was that O’Connor gave
the Jordan Martin claim to government officials and was able to clear his
conscience by saying “it is with the
appropriate people who are looking into it”. Having got into the British
administration system it effectively lost the personal connection and became
another case to be dealt with in due course.

Whilst Jordan Martin was hustling to survive and provide
for his family, Lt. Col O’Connor retired from India and received a knighthood[6].

For the remainder of Jordan’s days, it was a continual
disappointment.

But he was nothing if not unrelenting. In 1918 with
nowhere to go, he ended up living in a small corner in the Armenian Church in
Bushire for three months. He suffered from what he called indigestion but it is
likely to have been something a bit more serious. In addition he was sick with
malaria, jaundice and dysentery[7].
How he managed to survive can only be described as a miracle. In a desperate
bid for some minor financial aid he wrote:

“…….nobody knew anything of my services
and of what had taken place between Col. O’C and myself all confidential papers
having been burnt up, Major Trevor on the strength of a telegraphic reply from
London was kind enough to grant me for the time being Rs1500 and on going to Simla
the Hon. Mr. Bray helped me further [with] Rs500. The poor children will be
coming down to Calcutta in a day or two to enjoy their winter vacation………… they
will come to know that the last Calcutta debt of Rs3000 and 2000 still unpaid.

To rob I cant, to beg I am ashamed………….”

The Political Resident at Bushire, Major A.P. Trevor
eventually granted him a free passage to Bombay in December 1918 enabling him
to join his family in Calcutta. Although very sick, he successfully made the
journey. By February 1919 his condition had deteriorated so much that he had
been admitted to the Presidency Hospital in Calcutta[8].

Regaining some of his health, he managed to secure a
position as a clerk in the Shellac business run by a well known Calcutta
Armenian, J.C. Galstaun.Jordan worked
for him for 41/2 years after which he set up a business with one of his
brother’s in Tehran.

Jordan and Elizabeth quickly integrated into the Armenian
way of life in Calcutta, and over the ensuing years went on to become respected
stalwarts in the community. He continued to fight for an education for his
children, Lucy and Haik and as if he and Elizabeth had not had enough to deal
with, they found themselves having to help their widowed daughter-in-lawLucy Martin and her four young children,
after their father (Jordan’s eldest son Martyrose) died unexpectedly in Shiraz
in 1937.

These young grandchildren immediately came under the care
and protection of Jordan and Elizabeth to whom they looked upon as parents.

Jordan Martin – DNA

Jordan’s eldest son, Martyrose
Martin married Lucya Carapiet around 1925 in Shiraz. They had four children:

Sonia, born July 1926 in Shiraz,

A daughter born in 1928, in
Shiraz

Another daughter, Elizabeth
born in 1931, in Shiraz

Jordan Martin born in 1932,
in Shiraz

The marriage was noted in a local Calcutta newspaper The Statesman

Sonia Martin met and went on to marry Arathoon
Mackertich John in July 1947 at the Armenian Church, Calcutta.

Sonia’s sister Elizabeth (Betty) passed away in Sussex,
another sister lives peacefully in London and her brother, Jordan Martin (named
after their brave grandfather) also lives quietly in London, regularly enjoying
card game evenings with his local Armenian friends.

Sonia’s father-in-law Mackertich John speaking
with the visiting Bishop.

Sonia John was the only one of her siblings to stay in Calcutta where she and
her husband Arathoon ran the Continental Hotel. They equally became an integral
part of the Armenian community in the city. Sonia is probably best known for
her involvement with the Armenian Church; she held the position of honorary Chairperson
for a number of years. She was also the Honorary Manager of the Armenian
College and Philanthropic Academy for several years as well, the institute that
educated her father Martyrose Martin and her grandfather Jordan Martin.Her brother Jordan spent some time serving in
the Royal Air Force, and as is quite normal for Armenians from Calcutta, was
passionate about sport, and in particular rugby, a game that Armenians from
India have excelled at for over a century.

One of many social gatherings Sonia and her husband attended in Calcutta

Both Sonia and her brother Jordan were curious about
their deeper DNA ancestry. With some guidance as to which DNA test company to
use, it was finally decided to go with familytreedna.com.By using this particular companySonia and Jordan[9]
were able to tap in to the vast knowledge of the Armenian DNA Project and its administrators,Peter Ara Hrechdakian and Hovann Simonian
respectively. Sonia’s results came back first and gave the clearest indication
of her deep-rooted Armenian family heritage. FamilytreeDNA’s testing initially
reporting heras 100% Armenian/Middle
Eastern putting her in the haplogroup H13a1-T152C.

Sonia John's FamilytreeDNA Population Finder graphic

Some time later, familytreeDNA re-calibrated their
testing system. The refined results, split by region then came in at 87%
Armenian/Middle Eastern. 83% was DNA from Asia Minor (Armenia) and 4% from West
Middle East. The remaining 11% were European and “trace” results.

From family stories and knowledge of her own Armenian
family history, the DNA test simply confirmed everything she already knew.She spoke with her brother and he too agreed
to take the test. As a male, his results would show the deeper male heritage
line of the Martin family.

Sonia John's FamilytreeDNA Ethnic makeup shows her Armenian origins

When Jordan’s results became available, they curiously
threw up more questions than answers. His results were also showing Armenian, but
not within the range of haplogroups that are currently in the Armenian DNA
Project.Administrators were puzzled,
and a fair bit of head scratching went on. It was decided that Jordan’s DNA
should be tested for the BIG Y test with familytreeDNA. This test would be able
to establish without question his deeper DNA.

Eventually the results came back – and what an exciting
read they were.

After much discussion amongst the Armenian DNA
Administrators, and further conversations with other Administrators of Jordan’s
haplogroup C-V20, the BIG Y test confirmed Jordan Martin’s Armenian
heritage.This group is indigenous to
the Middle East and is particularly rare. Ray Banks, Project Administrator for
the C haplogroup said: “

“………You
have 53 total useful mutations unique just to you. I have selected these to
represent a new investigational subgroup unique to you under Z38888. They begin
with Z44526, and you can see them under Z38888 on the tree If someone is later
found to share any of your 53 unique mutations that might be the basis of a
confirmed new subgroup unless the person is closely related. Counting the
number of mutations can give a general idea of when you last shared a common
grandfather with the men who have had Y sequencing. And these would suggest it
was almost 8000 years ago since you last shared a common grandfather with the
other known man who has Z38888………” Ray
continues: “……….The V20 branch is today
rare in the population, but was very common in the initial peopling of
Europe……..”

With the potential for being part of a new and currently
unknown DNA sub-group, if this does indeed turn out to be the case, will prove
to be a very exciting development in the science of DNA testing for siblings
Sonia John and Jordan Martin.

From a family history view point it is thrilling to know
that both Sonia and her brother Jordan are not only the grandchildren of a
heroic, loyal and selfless Armenian who served as a spy for the British in Iran
in 1915, but also, and far more importantly are able to justly and rightly
claim their place in history as part of the rare Armenian haplogroup that began
the population of Europe as we know it today.

Armenian Family History – DNA testing the next and modern
way forward.

Are you tracing your Armenian family tree? Have you
reached the point where you’re stuck, or simply don’t know which way to turn?
Why not get your DNA tested with www.familytreedna.com?Once you’ve signed up for a test consider
joining the Armenian DNA Project and tap into the wealth of knowledge of the
group administrators.There is also a
very helpful Armenian DNA Project Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/armenianDNAproject/where you can also ask questions. By joining
the Facebook Armenian Genealogy page at the same time https://www.facebook.com/groups/Armeniangenealogy/,
you will be able to cover all aspects of your genealogical queries.

DNA testing is the future to understanding the past. Just
ask Sonia and Jordan.

Acknowledgements

Mrs. Sonia John*

Mr. Jordan Martin

Ms. Brandy Sharifa

Ms Louise Culleton

Mr. Greg Marcar

Hovann Simonian, Armenian DNA specialist and one of the
Administrators of the Armenian DNA Project

*The Jordan Martin papers have kindly
been donated to me by Mrs. Sonia John to enhance my family history archive on
Armenian families in India.

[1]
Ironically, 110 years later a future Manager of the Armenian College in
Calcutta was his grand-daughter, Mrs. Sonia John neé Martin.

[7]
A draft letter by Jordan Martin dated 26 November 1918 giving an update to his
current living conditions

[8]
A draft letter by Jordan Martin to Col O’Connor of 10 March 1919 in reply to
his letter of 8 March in which O’Connor said he had written to the Govt. of
India making certain proposals regarding Jordan’s case for compensation.

[9]
Permission to publish the DNA results has been granted by both Sonia John and
Jordan Martin

About Me

Fascinated by Armenian family history in Asia, I have decided to share some of my research finds here. Many of the documents I post have never been seen in public and I hope you find them interesting.
My research is peppered with stories of the lost, forgotten, the ordinary and extra-ordinary, there are indigo planters, bathroom attendants, apothecaries, architects and priests, barristers and bank managers, engineers and time-keepers, doctors, farriers, teachers, mechanics, musicians, magistrates, portrait painters, and valets - they all had a life, they all have a story and I'm trying to do them all.
For Armenian graves in India and other historical postings please see my main website http://www.chater-genealogy.com